Family Preservation Counselor

Cayuga Centers•Auburn, NY

About The Position

Cayuga Centers is hiring a Family Preservation Counselor for its Family Preservation Program in Cayuga County, New York. The program serves families with children at risk of foster care placement or in need of intensive therapeutic services. Counselors work with families in their homes for 4–6 weeks and provide therapy 3–5 times per week, helping reduce the risk of removal and reports to child protective services. The counselor works with families and family members to identify parental and youth strengths and support the development of family goals that promote a stable, nurturing environment. The position uses research-based cognitive and behavioral strategies, home-based case management, crisis intervention, safety planning, and skills-building. Counselors carry a caseload of 2–3 families, coordinate parent/adolescent groups, and help families connect with longer-term services and supports. This is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week, temporary-to-possibly-permanent position. The schedule is flexible to meet youth and family needs and includes evening and possibly weekend hours, as well as on-call responsibilities. The position involves travel to appointments and activities using a personal vehicle and has physical requirements including sitting for extended periods, lifting up to 50 pounds, walking distances, and using stairs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with applicable experience in the human services field.
Ability and willingness to work with families in an in-home context.
Knowledge of family systems theory and home-based interventions.
Ability to engage families who may not want services or who are mandated to receive them.
Valid New York State driver’s license.
Willingness to work a flexible schedule that meets youth and family needs, including evening and possibly weekend hours and on-call responsibilities.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.

Responsibilities

Use research-based cognitive and behavioral strategies to facilitate behavior change.
Provide home-based, solution-focused case management support and/or crisis intervention to individuals and families.
Model and teach basic life skills to empower individuals and families to become self-sufficient.
Assess safety, structure the environment, and use clinical strategies designed to promote safety.
Help families develop preventative and responsive skills for crisis situations.
Demonstrate an inclusive and accepting practice in the office and in the field.
Carry a full caseload of 2–3 families.
Refer individuals and families to appropriate longer-term services and supports.
Assist families with tasks needed to stabilize them, modeling and teaching basic life skills.
Coordinate and facilitate parent/adolescent groups.

Benefits

120 hours of vacation.
10 paid holidays (prorated).
24 hours of paid personal time.
Medical appointment time.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligible employer.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Pet and legal insurance.
Employee Assistance Program.
FSA, transit, and parking savings accounts.
Supplemental life insurance, critical illness, and enhanced short-term disability benefits.
401(k) available.
Corporate discounts program.
Sick leave pool.
Identity protection.